Ernest Cooper was born April 28th on the outskirts of a little town called Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Music has always been part of his life from the very beginning. He uses to sneak into the night clubs, listen to the live bands and dance to the music from the Juke-box. He was always writing lyrics and singing some kind of vocal rhythm. At the age of 20, Ernest decided to leave Elizabeth City and come to New York to pursue a career as an entertainer. After playing in clubs in North Carolina and Virginia. Realizing that he will never reach his goals by staying there. Upon his arrival in New York City Ernest quickly made friends and almost immediately starts to make the club seen in Manhattan, Harlem and the Bronx. The excitement was overwhelming. Right about that time Sylvia and Joe Robinson of All Platinum Records in New Jersey released a record by a group called The Sugar Hill Gang. That blew his mind. The beats, the rap will forever change Ernest Cooper. He brought DJ equipment and start working in clubs DJ'ing and rapping. Ernest formed a street style group called the Gladiators. They worked block parties and park events spinning the turntables burning up the grooves and rapping. What has now became known as hip hop. Ernest met a brother name Larry "88" Keyes that was a music arranger. They became friends although their taste in music was very different it didn't matter. Ernest had the opportunity of performing with none other than Mr. Hip Hop himself Kurtis Blow. He also performed with well known artists like Doug E. Fresh and Grand Master Flash. Things were finally coming together for Ernest. His career was starting to happen. Ernest also worked with some of the Doo Wop groups like the late Jimmy Keyes of the Chords and Demetrious from the singing group The Popular Five. Working with these great artist inspired Ernest to sing again. He recorded a song title, The Break Dance on the Clarence Music Record label. The record was getting air play WWRL in New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore, Maryland and many other states. Ernest signed with a booking agent and performed in different cities working his way back to New York. He performs in a club called the Sanctuary in Manhattan on west 43rd street between 8th and 9th Aves. He performed at the Dome in the east village near St. Marks Place and many more clubs. Ernest was doing TV interviews and performing at City Hall. There he had Mayor Koch dancing to his song The Break Dance. Ernest receive a letter from none other than the Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch. Ernest decided to work some of the local clubs like the Fairtree Lounge in the Bronx, The Savoy Manor on 145th St. in Harlem and the Red Carpet in the Bronx and various other clubs. Right about then Ernest was back in the recording studio recording, Love Your Family. The title speaks for itself, also released on The Clarence Music Record label. Ernest was also learning the skills of master mixing pulsating beats, creating rhythmic words that later became the throbbing hard hitting raps that Ernest later became known for. Tired of performing in the local clubs and hot spots, he start to miss performing in different states meeting people and making new friends. Ernest spoke to his booking agent. Expressing his desire to go on the road with his crew, working clubs in state after state, Ernest felt whole again, for this is what he loved. After being on the road for what seem like forever Ernest returned to New York, where he took time off to rest and to get his creative juices flowing again. Ernest met Curtis Blandon, a recording artist and song writer. Curtis recorded the Northern Soul Classic recording of, In The Long Run, produced by Gene Chandler, released on the Wand Record Label. They became friends. Curtis also wrote for Gloria Gayner, I Got You album. Three songs, one being the disco hit title, Let's Make A Deal. Ernest decided that he was going to create his own record label, Mass Media Records and start his own publishing company, Super Media Music. Ernest Cooper believes his strength as a recording artist lies in his unique ability to write his own lyrics. He records his own music and mixes it into the right sound barrier. That is the new Hip Hop and R&B sound of today. C. Veronica Thomas